不見棺材不掉淚

bùjiànguāncaibùdiàolèi ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ˙ㄘㄞ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄠˋ ㄌㄟˋ

    • to refuse to admit defeat until all is lost
    • to refuse to face the truth until it is hopeless

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Proverb谚语諺語 · In everyday use

Literally
not shedding tears until seeing the coffin
Meaning
Refusing to admit defeat or accept the truth until things are hopeless. Critical of stubbornness. Compare "won't take no for an answer until it's too late."

Sources